Sox prospect Rienzo impressing scouts

Brazilian right-hander determined to pitch way to big leagues

PEORIA, Ariz. — — Andre Rienzo hopes to put Brazil on the baseball map as he pursues his own path toward making the White Sox's roster.

Despite allowing his first two runs in Arizona Fall League play Wednesday, Rienzo continued to impress the more than two dozen scouts who watched his performance for the Salt River Rafters.

Rienzo's fastball was clocked as high as 95 mph by one National League scout, and his repertoire of pitches is one reason he appears destined for the Sox's 40-man roster next month with a realistic shot at making the 25-man roster no later than 2014.

"It's important to do my best so people can see I can do it," the 6-foot-3, 160-pound right-hander said after getting nicked for two runs on four hits and five walks in 42/3 innings in Peoria. "The dream in the minors is up. The major leagues, I'll try my best to be there."

Rienzo, 23, looks forward to the chance to represent his country in the World Baseball Classic. He said he has accepted an invitation to pitch for Brazil in a WBC qualifier in Panama City, Panama, starting Nov. 15.

"If Brazil qualifies, maybe baseball in Brazil can change a little bit (for the better)," said Rienzo, who hopes to join the Blue Jays' Yan Gomes as the second Brazilian-born player in the majors. "Baseball in Brazil has kind of died."

Rienzo said he has followed the path of two older brothers who played baseball, in addition to his mother, a former softball player.

"In Brazil, you play on Saturday and Sunday, and all my family went out to the fields to play," Rienzo said. "I started to practice and kept going, and now I'm here."

Rienzo hasn't lost the foot skills he learned in his soccer-saturated country, according to Sox first base prospect Andy Wilkins.

"He's unbelievable if you ever see him with the things he does with his feet," said Wilkins, who played with Rienzo for part of 2012 at Double-A Birmingham.

Rienzo's delivery is somewhat similar to that of former National League Cy Young Award winner Orel Hershiser. And he has a sharp slider and changeup to complement his fastball. He's also quick to compliment his infield teammates for nice defensive plays.

Rienzo displayed his athleticism in the fifth when he charged off the mound quickly as Peoria center fielder Billy Hamilton, who led organized baseball with 130 stolen bases in the Reds organization, fouled a bunt attempt.

As fast as Rienzo made the jump from Class-A Winston-Salem to Triple-A Charlotte (compiling a combined 7-3 record and 2.53 ERA with 113 strikeouts in 1031/3 innings at three levels), he had to overcome the roadblock of a 50-game suspension through May and early June for testing positive for metabolites of Stanozolol, a banned substance.

Rienzo said he bought a dietary supplement at a health food store in Brazil that caused the positive test and eventually reinforced his will to succeed.

"(The suspension) made me think how important baseball is for me," said Rienzo, who has a 1.54 ERA with 11 strikeouts in 112/3 innings for Salt River. It was hard for me to be out 50 days. It made me think more about making my dream happen."

Rienzo was just as appreciative of the Sox's player development staff for not giving up on him after the positive test.

"Buddy Bell, Nick Capra and (Kirk) Champion called to say they're behind me and don't think about it," Rienzo said. "Go to Arizona and train and come back to the game. It made me relax a bit, and I'm so glad to be part of the White Sox organization. It has given me the power to come back strong."